The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
Oils used as lubricants in machines have to be replaced regularly for them to remain effective. The process entails wastage and the oils being dumped become an environmental hazard. Both these problems can be solved by the Hydroscav Oil Purifier, designed by the Melbournebased Ausdel. The Hydroscav extracts various contaminants …
This year, Ralph Nader faces one of the stiffest challenges of his career -and the visible possibility of a setback -since the failed attempt to get the Congress to establish a Consumer Protection Agency. The setback could stem from an issue known as the 'tort reform', which seeks to restrict …
THE Supreme Court has been passing quite a few orders on environmental cases of late. It is, in fact, now common for journalists to somewhat affectionately refer to -one particular judge as the 'green judge', the largest number of judgments having been passed by him. So, environment is clearly on …
THIS is a carefully researched study of the extent of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the Jordan river waters. The subject has been examined in a non-partisan manner not only in the context of its historical'setting, but also of the dimensions of problems in water sharing between all countries situated in …
A 45-day yatra comprising activists from 30 NGOs was flagged off from Ahmedabad on January 30. The crusaders hope to mobilise public opinion on developmental issues. They also propose to form a non-patty political force that can apply pressure on political parties and candidates in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. …
MINING is the world's second oldest activity (after agriculture) which provides gainful jobs. The post- Independence industrial scenario has seen India become an important exporter of mineral ores - especially, to an extent, iron ore. Nearly half of the iron ore exports from India comes from the tiny island state …
Two accidents at Germany's largest chemical group, Hoechst AG, in the last week of January this year, has led to nearly one tonne of toxic powder escaping into the environment and another 1.5 tonne of an unnamed substance spilling into the Main River, near Frankfurt. The powder used to make …
A recent World Bank (WB) report has given a a poor rating to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) which is saddled with major resettlement problems. According to an estimate, the first of the four phases in the LHWP, Phase IA, is expected to displace 1,500 people and affect the …
In a momentous judgement last month, the Supreme Court directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to ensure the safety of the Chakma and Hajong tribals in the state and to thwart any move to evict them forcibly from their homes and occupations. The court asked the state government to take the …
The controversial Omai gold mine which was shut down in August last year after a cyanide spill (Down to Earth, Vol 4, No 9) is to be reopened shortly, after a commission appointed by the Guyana government declared it safe. However, the recommendation comes alongwith a rider that improved environmental …
The last two remaining stocks of the dreaded smallpox virus in Russia and US will now be destroyed by June 30, 19", if all the members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) agree on its elimination. The annual meeting of the WHO board which is to be held in May …
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Punjab, Pakistan, has yet to deliver its no. objection certificate to the Islamabad-based Northern Electric Company Limited which plans to build a coal-fired power plant in Choa-Saidan Shah in the Chakwal district. The EPA has asked for mom details on how the company would …
Nepalese herbs with anti-cancer properties of which little was known earlier, has stirred a lot of interest in the medical circles in Kathmandu. The leaf of Land Sallo, a herb found in plenty in Nepal, consists of a vital anti-cancer AW agent - Taxis regin - which is now being …
THE world's oceans and seas will soon become conduits for carrying conversations across major countries in what is being referred to as the 'information superhighway'. The us $1.5 billion project took off as the laying of the first stages of the FLAG (Fibreoptic Link Around the Globe) cable system took …
HELL bath no fury like the US scorned! Venezuela and Brazil have touched on the raw the Big Brother of the First World, by evoking an anti-US ruling from the one-year old World Trade Organization'(WTO). The organisation came into existence on January 1, 1995, as a successor to GATT (the …
THROUGHOUT the developed world today, there is a determined effort to clean up the air, and railways are being pushed as the most convenient, eco-friendly, cheap, fast and comfortable mode of transport. Road transport, correspondingly, is being made costlier by imposing heavy tolls. India's policy too had always been to …
What does your star foretell - are you born an environmentalist? So said Enviro-astronomical Star Gazer, a Central Pollution Control Board advertisement in, all major Indian newspapers, on this New Year's Day. Among all, the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries, born fighters and champions of causes, were asked to …
GEOSPHERE versus biosphere interactions not only precipitate but also moderate changes in the global environmental system. While several studies have concentrated on modern anthropogenic activities, the socioeconomic dimensions of human-environment relationship over time has not been properly documented. It is here that the remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) …
The Consumer's Association of Penang (CAP) in Malaysia has launched a blitzkrieg to ban Barbie. The doll is being blamed for promoting inappropriate stereotypes among children. Janet Pillai, a lecturer in children's theatre at the Universities Sains, Malaysia, says, "The notion of beauty promoted through Barbic - hour- glass figure, …
THEY invaded the panchayat offices in several parts of Kerala... teeming crowds of noisy school students demanding, of all things, panchayat maps! This sudden interest in their respective local geographies was sparked off by the Vigyanotsavam - meaning a 'festival of sciences' - conducted by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad …
